The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.

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A new R2 Articles & Knowlege Base page has been added to the Education & Training section of the SERI website. The page contains previous newsletter articles and other articles pertaining to R2 requirements, the R2 Code of Practices, the audit process, and other information useful for implementing and auditing the R2 Standard.

The R2 Consensus Body and the SERI Board of Directors have approved a Formal Interpretation of the language in Provision 5a of R2:2013. This was done in accordance with Article 10, “Interpretations Policy”, of the SERI Manual of Policies and Procedures for R2 Standard Development. This Formal Interpretation has an Effective Date of February 1, 2017.

Virtually all certified organizations will receive non-conformances from their certification body auditor from time-to-time. Minor non-conformances -- in limited numbers – are to be expected. Correcting non-conformances is necessary to maintain certification, however, steps to prevent reoccurrences is also required. Continual improvement, including learning from non-conformances, is what makes an organization better, and separates certified facilities from the competition.

R2 certified companies should be expecting and preparing for more rigorous audits by their certifying bodies in 2017. Equipped with a better understanding of the electronics recycling industry as a whole, and how to audit the R2 Standard in particular, auditors will be able to more effectively evaluate how facilities are conforming to R2 requirements. More rigorous auditing will further strengthen the R2 program and instill greater confidence in users of recycling services.

Q. We only log test results for equipment that passes our testing. We do not log the test results of equipment that fails since it goes directly to our dismantling area to be broken down and sent to a downstream vendor for recycling. Are we required to log the testing records of failed equipment destined for end-of-life recycling?

The R2 Technical Advisory Committee has released a formal interpretation of Provision 5.a - specifically relating to control of Focus Materials.

“Control” in Provision 5.a applies or begins at the point where and when the R2 Certified recycler takes title or physical possession of the Focus Materials or equipment containing Focus Materials. Therefore, the R2 Standard requirements under Provision 5 would apply when:

The R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has been regularly meeting via conference call to consider possible revisions to the R2 Standard. The TAC is comprised of representatives from regulatory and public interest entities, recyclers/refurbishers, corporate users of electronics recycling services, and technical advisors with broad-ranging expertise in the industry who share SERI’s vision for safe and sustainable electronics reuse and recycling. The first draft of the revision is currently planned for late 2017, with the release of the final version in 2018, and full implementation by 20

A common misconception among recyclers and refurbishers is that new facilities can be R2 certified from day one. The R2 Code of Practices requires candidates for certification to have at least three months of records in order to move past the Stage 1 audit. Furthermore, for a facility to be recommended for R2 certification, the auditor must review and document evidence that the company is operating in conformance with all 13 provisions of the R2 Standard. A compa

The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.